The Basic Trap

Treat for mosquitos around your home and decrease Dengue and Zika. Shared with permission from Van Eden from Hawaii Dengue Awareness.

Here’s what you need:

• A pinch of compost or dry grass, or a few rabbit food pellets
• A 1 or 2 qt glass or plastic jar. Bigger is better.
• Terro Ant Dust.  Kills fire ants too!
• Boric Acid,  aka Roach Powder.
• Some heavy paper, like builder’s paper or cloth, or a flat stick like a paint stirrer or cedar shim.
• Some tape or rubber bands.

Here’s what to do:

1. Optional but recommended: Spray paint the jar black.
2. Half fill the jar with water (1 quart).
3. Add a large heaped teaspoon of roach powder (boric acid) for each quart of water.  Mix to dissolve.
4. Add a small pinch of compost or grass.
5. Cut your paper/cloth/stick into a strip 1 or 2 inches wide, and one inch longer than the jar is tall.  Write the date on the end with a Sharpie to remind you when you made it.
6. Moisten the strip to make it damp (not dripping). Rub 1 tsp of Terro Ant Dust on it. Wear gloves! Shake it to get rid of excess dust.
7. Place the strip inside the jar, with one end folded over the rim so the end with the date is on the outside. If using a stick, just let it stick out.
8. Hold the paper/cloth strip in place with a rubber band or tape.
9. Place the trap in a shaded area that is protected from rain.
10. Remake this trap every four weeks. Discard the water onto the ground (boric acid is not toxic to plants or animals), and put the landing strip in the garbage.

Now go get the materials and make one!